‘I hate to retire,’ says Rafael Nadal after US Open exit

Rafael Nadal was understandably crestfallen after being forced to retire from his US Open semifinal against Juan Martin del Potro.

The world No.1 suffered a recurrence of his long-standing knee injury and was forced to call it a day when he trailed Del Potro by two sets to love.

It is the second time this year the Spaniard has retired at a Grand Slam, following his quarterfinal exit against Marin Cilic at the Australian Open.

REPORT: Del Potro through to final after Nadal retires

“You could imagine it was very difficult for me to say goodbye before the match finished, but at some point you have to make a decision,” said Nadal, defending champion at Flushing Meadows.

“It was so difficult for me to keep playing that way, having so much pain. It was not a tennis match at the end. It was just one player playing, the other one staying on the other side.

“I hate to retire, but to stay one more set out there playing like this was too much for me.”

RESPECT ????

Feel better soon, @RafaelNadal! #USOpen pic.twitter.com/kho1G073cM

— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) September 7, 2018

Nadal revealed that he first felt the problem earlier in the tournament and it returned “a little bit more aggressive” in the opening set against Del Potro.

“It is tough, these moments, but at the same time I am going to keep working hard to have these opportunities,” said Nadal.

“I know the things are going the right way. I am playing well. I am enjoying on court. I am having a lot of success. I am very competitive at the age of 32. I am here fighting for titles, fighting for the first position of the ATP Rankings.

“Last year was a fantastic year. This year has been a fantastic year until this moment. I lost four matches. Two of them I had to retire.

“The negative thing is that those two were in the quarterfinals and semifinals of a Grand Slam. That’s frustrating.”

Del Potro is another player who has suffered with injuries throughout his career, with repeated wrist surgeries almost driving him into early retirement at one stage.

“I can’t say that I am happy became I am not,” added Nadal. “But he is a player who went through a lot of issues, like me.

“I’m happy for him that he’s been able to be back on his top level and I wish him all the best.”